No. 1 Don Bosco Prep trounces Bergen Catholic 42-14

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – For years before he became the Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) sideline boss, Nunzio Campanile roamed the sidelines at neighboring Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), helping the Ironmen emerge as a national juggernaut with an offense that capitalized upon numerous short fields after the defense created countless turnovers.

Ultimately, what helped Campanile earn several state championship rings while with the Ironmen cost the Crusaders for the second consecutive season under the MetLife Stadium lights.

Just like last December, when a slew of miscues thwarted Bergen Catholic's efforts to dethrone Don Bosco Prep as the Garden State's undisputed gridiron power, the Ironmen's ability to both create and capitalize upon mistakes proved to be the difference once again in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public Group 4 title game.

In their final chance to remind everyone why they are the nation's No. 1 team, the Ironmen turned four of their five interceptions into 28 points en route to capturing their sixth straight state title and 45th consecutive victory courtesy of a resounding 42-14 triumph over their chief rival before 16,712 on Friday night.

"There's a reason their whole defense is going to be Division I players," Campanile said.

Although Bergen Catholic (9-3) kept things interesting for much of the first half, each team's first two drives ultimately told the story. While the Crusaders had a pass picked off by Kyle Sakowski and fumbled a punt snap, the Ironmen (12-0) scored on a Mike Yankovich 1-yard plunge and a 15-yard scoring run by Elijah Shumate to take a 14-0 lead with 5:22 left in the first quarter.

Much of the Ironmen's good fortune came because of a relentless pass rush that recorded eight sacks, including 3 ½ from senior defensive lineman Darius Hamilton.

"Defensively we got after them right from the start," said Sakowski, who picked off two passes. "We wouldn't have gotten any of those interceptions without the D-line. They were pressuring that quarterback every down.

"With this team," Sakowski continued, "you can look to the right and to the left and you know someone's going to be able to make a play."

However, Campanile's play calling helped the Crusaders halve their deficit when Michael Gerst's 10-yard touchdown sprint capped an impressive 10-play, 80-yard drive. But while Don Bosco sputtered on its ensuing two drives, Bergen Catholic turned the ball over on downs after driving to the Ironmen 25 and had a punt blocked by DBP's Rutgers-bound Leonte Carroo.

Seven plays and 43 yards later, Shumate bulled his way in from the 1, giving the nation's No. 1 team a 21-7 lead.

And after a Ryan Kelly interception of Yankovich in the end zone breathed a bit of fresh life into Bergen Catholic's upset hopes, Shumate quickly quelled them with a 20-yard interception return on the very next play to make it 28-7 just two minutes into the second half.

"I thought we played great," Don Bosco coach Greg Toal said. "I thought we made plays. I thought our defense was out of sight."

After Yankovich (15 yards) and Jabrill Peppers (36) rushed for insurance scores, assuring another perfect season for Don Bosco Prep, the last remaining question was:

Are the Ironmen in fact the nation's No. 1 team, as they have been ranked since the first Xcellent 25 was released this summer?

Hamilton said, "I don't think there's any doubt," while Shumate, swept up in the postgame hysteria, told a group of reporters, "We're the greatest team."

Toal is normally not prone to hyperbole, but after seeing the Ironmen breeze through a 12-game slate that included Mission Viejo, St. Edwards, St. Joseph Regional and Bergen Catholic twice, he heaped praise upon his roster before walking off the MetLife Stadium turf.

"Oh, we're the No. 1 team in the country," the coach said. "We're the best football team in the country. There ain't no doubt about that.

"We play the best teams and we don't back down from anybody. So, yeah, this is the best team."